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With 14 weeks and many of your regular seasons in the books, we now shift into playoff hyperdrive. Some of you might be limping into the playoffs, others might be getting reinforcements back at just the right time. Whatever the case may be, the waiver wire is your only ally at this point. Don't stop trying even if you're juggling $0 priority bids.
Joining our famous waiver wire pickups list, our weekly fantasy football waiver wire columns by position, and our free new Who Should I Pickup? Waiver Wire comparison tool, this column focuses on suggested waiver wire bidding percentages for fantasy football owners in leagues using a Free Agent Acquisition Budget (FAAB).
As a caveat, these prices do not indicate how much these free-agent players will go for. Each league values players differently and will continue to do so. These values are here to provide a baseline or priority order to understand roughly how much you should be looking to spend on a particular player. Specific needs are always reasonable causes for a manual override. Here are my median FAAB bid ranges and adds going into Week 15.
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FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Quarterbacks
**If Mike White (20% rostered) is able to play through the pain then his date with Detroit makes him a top waiver add. I’d happily go up toward 10-15% if I lost my QB and White was still available. The Jets have an incredible playoff schedule for us if White’s health holds up. Brock Purdy is another dinged-up option (or Josh Johnson) but Seattle's secondary is far more dangerous!
Ryan Tannehill (QB, TEN) - FAAB Bid: 2-4%
33% rostered
Tannehill tried to pull the Titans back against Jacksonville but they’ve now lost three straight games. Without Treylon Burks, Tanny threw for 254 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception on 25-of-38 passing. He also mixed in 16 rushing yards, a two-point conversion, and lost a fumble.
That mixed bag produced a fringe QB1 on a bye-heavy week, and now he gets the Chargers' mixed-bag defense in Week 15. Those who lost a QB to the concussion barrage may lower their bar enough to let Ryan into their world. You can pivot if Burks isn’t ready but at least TEN showed they’ll lean on their tight ends rather than forcing Racey McMath in on a majority of snaps.
Desmond Ridder (QB, ATL) - FAAB Bid: 1-2%
4% rostered
The Falcons are going to Ridder, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapaport. It seems the Marcus Mariota bridge has served its purpose and now we look to the future. Ridder’s four years at Cincinnati yielded a 62.1% completion rate, an 87/28 TD/INT ratio, and an average of nearly 550 rush yards per season.
His wheels give him immediate deep-league appeal, just as Mariota’s did. Atlanta likely maintains their run-heavy ways to ease Ridder in, but a takeover is possible. Fantasy players will want to monitor, not play, Ridder against the Saints in Week 15. He does get a sweet championship matchup against Arizona in Week 17.
#Falcons coach Arthur Smith makes it official: Desmond Ridder will start moving forward, a decision he calls "performance-based." He adds that Marcus Mariota is getting his knee checked out and is likely headed to Injured Reserve. That explains the Logan Woodside signing.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 12, 2022
FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Running Backs
Travis Homer (RB, SEA) - FAAB Bid: 15-25%
38% rostered
Homer was the man for Seattle despite a late grenade from Adam Schefter that Tony Jones Jr. would be the starter. (Classic.) Unfortunately, Seattle was put in a hole early and had to lean on Geno Smith throughout the contest.
It’s hard to overlook 32 total yards, but Homer still logged 49 reps, including 27 routes run, on 54 total offensive snaps. The Seahawks face the 49ers on Thursday, giving the injured RBs a smaller window to recover. Unfortunately, San Fran’s rush defense is stout and Homer would remain a low-end FLEX play.
Kevin Harris (RB, NE) - FAAB Bid: 3-5%
Pierre Strong Jr. (RB, NE) - FAAB Bid: 3-5%
1% & 0% rostered, respectively
Rhamondre Stevenson joined Damien Harris in the Injury Club with an ankle issue early on Monday night. Harris wound up with eight carries for 26 yards and a touchdown while Strong had 5-70-1 rushing with two catches for 20 yards. The numbers scream STRONG but it was Harris who stepped in during the first half and ran 15 routes to Strong's eight. The gap isn't as big as it appears.
Now, Harris carried a doubtful tag with his thigh injury rather than being ruled out early in the week and may be available in Week 15. Strong’s usage in the passing game has me leaning his way in general, but if either is to form a duo with Harris without Stevenson then Strong’s versatility gets the edge. Or J.J. Taylor will be activated and muddy everything further, because...Patriots.
Jordan Mason (RB, SF) - FAAB Bid: 2-4%
13% rostered
Mason once again proved capable as Christian McCaffrey’s spell back by rushing for 56 yards on 11 carries. That’s a strong way to follow his 8-51-0 line from Week 13, though much of it came late when SF had the game in hand.
Relying on such a game script is usually rough but Seattle, Washington, and Las Vegas could all succumb to the same fate as Tampa Bay. Deebo Samuel’s injury may also free up some opportunities as they’ll undoubtedly want to protect CMC for the playoffs. It isn’t much, but 8-10 weekly touches hold value.
In small sample, it looks like #49ers really have something with Jordan Mason.
He's averaging 2.69 yards per carry AFTER contact, which would be best in the NFL if qualified.
Also averaging 2 yards per carry over expectation.
Punishing finisher complements McCaffrey well.
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) December 12, 2022
Eno Benjamin (RB, HOU) - FAAB Bid: 1-3%
Rex Burkhead (RB, HOU) - FAAB Bid: 1-3%
3% rostered
Dameon Pierce injured his ankle in the fourth quarter and did not return, which would have provided an opportunity for Benjamin but early Monday saw him get waived. This makes Burkhead a potential volume prayer against Kansas City in Week 15, though Houston showed plenty of fight against Dallas.
Pierce is the type of runner who could still barrel over a linebacker on one leg but Houston has little reason to jeopardize their stud rookie at this point. With few waiver spotlights being widely available, those in deep waters should snag Burkhead. Just don't expect last year's playoff miracle rushing line of 22-149-2 to come back!
FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Wide Receivers
D.J. Chark (WR, DET) - FAAB Bid: 20-30%
40% rostered
Chark topped 90 yards for a second consecutive game on Sunday, snagging 6-of-7 targets for 94 yards and a score. He looks healthy and Detroit’s entire pass-catching corps benefits from an underutilized D’Andre Swift.
Amon-Ra St. Brown remains the primary WR so Chark is a volatile play against a Jets secondary that could line Sauce Gardner up on Chark outside. Regardless, Detroit’s entire team is constructed for shootouts and that makes Chark a solid add.
Isaiah Hodgins (WR, NYG) - FAAB Bid: 5-10%
1% rostered
Hodgins (4-38-1) and Richie James (7-61-1) found paydirt in Week 14, while Darius Slayton teams only got a 2-42-0 line. It’s a shame but this game got out of hand quickly, with starters being pulled toward the end. Still, Hodgins now has back-to-back games with six targets and a TD.
Saquon Barkley was clearly limited by the neck injury and rotated out often, Daniel Bellinger injured his ribs, and Brian Daboll revealed on Monday that James is in concussion protocol. This leaves Hodgins as a clear beneficiary as he aims for three straight games with a TD next weekend.
Week 14 air yardage share leaders at WR
71% - Davante Adams
61% - Donovan Peoples-Jones
57% - Chris Moore
52% - Ja'Marr Chase
51% - Tyreek Hill
50% - Justin Jefferson
48% - Demarcus Robinson
43% - Zay Jones, Isaiah Hodgins, Brandon Aiyuk
41% - DK Metcalf
40% - Tutu Atwell— Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23) December 12, 2022
Which leads nicely into...
Chris Moore (WR, HOU) - FAAB Bid: 5-10%
2% rostered
Who are we to turn our noses up at opportunity and volume? With Brandin Cooks and Nico Collins out, Moore stepped up by catching 10-of-11 targets for 124 yards against Dallas. We saw a glimpse of this back against Philly in Week 9, which both Cooks and Collins missed, and Moore went 4-43-1.
Houston showed plenty of grit in pushing Dallas to the brink as heavy underdogs, which we’ll hope they can run back in Week 15 against Kansas City. If Dameon Pierce is out or limited then even more passes will be heaved up, with Moore proving himself as our best dart throw. Monitor the injury report for Cooks and Collins updates!
Alec Pierce (WR, IND) - FAAB Bid: 4-8%
14% rostered
Pierce popped with four catches for 86 yards and a touchdown in Week 13 on a team-high eight targets in that laugher against Dallas. He’s seen eight targets in two of his last four games, but only two targets apiece alongside goose-egg box scores in the other two.
Boom-bust profiles can languish on wires until it’s too late but Matt Ryan is capable of eating sacks while chucking up 50 pass attempts. But there’s hope in the matchups, as Minnesota’s secondary is a bottom-three unit against WRs. Let’s hope they sell out to stop Jonathan Taylor and leave the likes of Pierce in solo coverage on the outside.
FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Tight Ends
Chigoziem Okonkwo (TE, TEN) - FAAB Bid: 3-5%
10% rostered
Okonkwo caught all six of his targets for 45 yards and a touchdown on Sunday with many TEN playmakers banged up. He also brought in a two-point conversion as the Titans were clawing back. Unfortunately, the tilted score limited the number of two-tight end sets deployed.
Still, Okonkwo played nearly half of the 11 personnel snaps per PFF and has now seen at least five looks in three consecutive games. Austin Hooper will still get his but the bar at TE is so low that Okonkwo carries intrigue against the Chargers in Week 15.
#Titans rookie TE Chig Okonkwo didn't have elite usage yesterday, even with Treylon Burks out. But dude can clearly play:
* 33-of-67 snaps (49%)
* 15 slot, 13 inline, 3 backfield, 2 wide
* 24 routes on 46 Tannehill dropbacks (52%)
* 6 targets for a 15.8% share
* 6-45-1 result https://t.co/vJA9bVdB3y— Adam Levitan (@adamlevitan) December 12, 2022
Tyler Conklin (TE, NYJ) - FAAB Bid: 1-3%
26% rostered
Conklin’s quiet 5-28-0 day on eight targets should give needy fantasy teams another shot at the add. He’s seen 15 targets over the last two games with little to show for it, but those opportunities could spike with premier playoff-week matchups.
Conklin and the Jets now face Detroit, Jacksonville, and Seattle. All three are above-average TE plays, with Detroit and Seattle yielding top-five TE numbers on the season.
Mitchell Wilcox (TE, CIN) - FAAB Bid: 0-2%
0% rostered
Wilcox played 53-of-67 snaps without Hayden Hurst, but only saw two targets on 24 routes run. Even without Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd, the Bengals were able to lean on Ja’Marr Chase, Joe Mixon, and Samaje Perine rather than the second tier of Wilcox and the WR replacements. You're trying to capture Joe Burrow coattails here, and I want to give a truly deep option.
FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Defense/Special Teams
Green Bay Packers Defense (vs. LAR) - FAAB Bid: 3-5%
34% rostered
The Packers come off of their bye to host a Rams offense that has looked rather lost without Cooper Kupp. The Packers have been unimpressive but had faced rough defensive matchups lately until a good showing at Chicago in Week 13.
Even they should hold it together better than the cursed Raiders did last week. The Rams' offensive line is patchwork at best and has given up at least three sacks in six straight games.
Carolina Panthers Defense (vs PIT) - FAAB Bid: 2-3%
6% rostered
The Panthers played very well against a Seattle squad, though it was forced to be more one-dimensional. Still, you know why we’re here. Yeah, Carolina has at least three sacks in four straight games with an average of 15 points allowed, but that’s not it.
Mitch Trubisky is penciled in as Pittsburgh’s starter with Kenny Pickett in concussion protocol. Trubisky hasn’t thrown for multiple touchdowns in a game this season and just tossed three interceptions against Baltimore. Let’s hope the Panthers can force even more mistakes.
Washington Commanders Defense (vs. NYG) - FAAB Bid: 1-2%
27% rostered
Washington is another defense coming off its bye and looking to keep a hot streak going. The Commanders will rematch the Giants after holding them to 20 points with four sacks and a fumble recovery in Week 13, and they may have Chase Young this time.
Meanwhile, Big Blue might not have Saquon Barkley at 100%, Richie James is in concussion protocol, and Daniel Bellinger has a rib injury. This is a nice spot to attack for streamers.
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